Free weekend outings with kids around Chicago
Chicago with kids can be expensive (a family of four spends two hundred dollars on a Museum Campus day) or cost nothing at all: the oldest big zoo in the country is free, three living-history farms are free, two giant conservatories are free, every forest preserve nature center is free, and so are miles of Lake Michigan beach.
The west-suburban free list is Kline Creek Farm, Cantigny (parking only), the trails at Herrick Lake and Springbrook Prairie, and the nature centers at Knoch Knolls and Fullersburg Woods; in the northwest, Spring Valley Nature Center plus Volkening Farm plus the Bison's Bluff playground is a whole day. For a free downtown day, the Metra weekend pass is $7 for the family, and the Maggie Daley playground, Crown Fountain, the Riverwalk, the Harold Washington Library and the Cultural Center are all within walking distance; up north, Lincoln Park Zoo and its conservatory cost only parking.
- 47 places
- 47 free
- 43 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
47 places
Drive times from Naperville
Naperville Riverwalk
5.0Naperville · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free on weekends at the Municipal Center (400 S Eagle St) and the Central Parking Facility; use the Van Buren garage when downtown is tight
Knoch Knolls Nature Center and trails
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (320 Knoch Knolls Rd)
Wolf's Crossing Community Park playground and splash pad
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (3252 Wolf's Crossing Rd)
Naperville 95th Street Library kids' area
5.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (3015 Cedar Glen Dr)
Fountaindale Public Library kids' area
5.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (300 W Briarcliff Rd)
Sensory Garden Playground
5.0Lisle · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free playground lot (2225 Abbeywood Dr)
Cantigny Park gardens and tank park
5.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: About $5–15 per car depending on the day (check the website); admission free
Kline Creek Farm (1890s farm)
5.0West Chicago · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (1N600 County Farm Rd)
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
5.0Willow Springs · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (9800 Willow Springs Rd)
Trailside Museum of Natural History
5.0River Forest · 30 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free museum lot (738 Thatcher Ave)
Primrose Farm (1930s farm)
5.0St. Charles · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (5N726 Crane Rd)
Rehm Park playground
5.0Oak Park · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking (Garfield St / East Ave)
Oak Park Public Library kids' area
5.0Oak Park · 35 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (first 2 hours free, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Green Line Oak Park station
Spring Valley Nature Center and trails
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (1111 E Schaumburg Rd)
Volkening Heritage Farm (1880s farm)
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (201 S Plum Grove Rd), or walk over from the Spring Valley Nature Center
Bison's Bluff Nature Playground
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free Spring Valley Nature Center lot (1111 E Schaumburg Rd); the playground is right next to it
Schaumburg Township District Library kids' area
5.0Schaumburg · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (130 S Roselle Rd)
Garfield Park Conservatory
5.0Chicago · 40 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free conservatory lot (Central Park Ave); the Green Line Conservatory-Central Park Drive station is at the door
Maggie Daley Park play garden
5.0Chicago · 45 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage (Columbus Dr entrance, about $25–30 on weekends); 5-minute walk from Metra at Millennium Station; L to Washington/Wabash
Oz Park (Wizard of Oz playground)
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Metered street parking (Webster / Lincoln Ave); 10-minute walk from the Brown Line Armitage station
Lincoln Park Zoo
5.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot about $20–35 (by the hour); Stockton Dr meters; bus 151 / 156
Emily Oaks Nature Center
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (4650 Brummel St)
River Trail Nature Center
5.0Northbrook · 55 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3120 Milwaukee Ave)
Historic Wagner Farm
5.0Glenview · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free farm lot (1510 Wagner Rd)
Indian Boundary Park playground and lagoon
5.0Chicago · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking (Lunt / Estes Ave)
Skokie Public Library kids' area
5.0Skokie · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free library lot (5215 Oakton St)
Montrose Beach and dunes
5.0Chicago · 55 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Lots of free parking along Montrose Harbor, usually available even on weekend afternoons
Evanston Public Library kids' area
5.0Evanston · 60 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Library garage under the building (Church St entrance, recently free for the first stretch, check the website); 5-minute walk from the Purple Line Davis station
Springbrook Prairie
4.0Naperville · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Plainfield-Naperville Rd and 83rd St
Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm
4.0Bolingbrook · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (419 Trout Farm Rd)
Herrick Lake lakeside trail
4.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Two free lots, on Butterfield Rd and Herrick Rd
Northside Park lakeside playground
4.0Wheaton · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (1300 N West St)
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center and Graue Mill
4.0Oak Brook · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free nature center lot (3609 Spring Rd)
Busse Woods elk and lake loop
4.0Elk Grove Village · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small lot for the elk pasture at Higgins Rd and Arlington Heights Rd; other entrances along Higgins Rd and Golf Rd
Lake Arlington loop
4.0Arlington Heights · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lakeside lot (off 1330 E Palatine Rd)
The 606 elevated trail
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street parking (metered around Damen / Western Ave); 8-minute walk from the Blue Line Damen station
Chicago Riverwalk
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park or Grant Park garage (about $20–30 on weekends); 10-minute walk from Metra at Union Station; 5-minute walk from the L at State/Lake
Jackson Park Wooded Island and Japanese garden
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking on the east side of the MSI and along Hayes Dr; 15-minute walk from the Green Line / Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station
Millennium Park and Crown Fountain
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park or Grant Park garage (about $25–30 on weekends); Metra to Millennium Station is right under the park; L to Washington/Wabash
Harold Washington Library children's library
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Nearby garages (Van Buren / State St, about $15–25 on weekends); the L's Harold Washington Library station is at the door; 5-minute walk from Metra at LaSalle St
57th Street Beach and Promontory Point
4.0Chicago · 45 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free parking on the east side of the MSI and along Science Dr, then take the underpass to the lake; 15-minute walk from the Metra Electric 55th-56th-57th station
North Avenue Beach
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: North Ave beach lot (about $20–30 on summer weekends, full after 10am); bus 151 / 72 to LaSalle & North
Lincoln Park Conservatory
4.0Chicago · 50 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Zoo lot (about $20–35) or Stockton Dr street parking; bus 151 / 156
Illinois Beach State Park
4.0Zion · 85 min drive
4 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free state park lots; the south unit swimming beach lot is closest
Waterfall Glen waterfall and woodland trails
3.0Darien · 20 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Bluff Rd lot is closest to the falls; the main Northgate Rd lot is off Cass Ave
Chicago Cultural Center
3.0Chicago · 45 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Millennium Park garage; Metra to Millennium Station across the street; L to Washington/Wabash
Starved Rock State Park canyons
3.0Oglesby · 75 min drive
4 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Large free visitor center lot; expect a line to get in after 10am on spring weekends
💡 Good to know
- The free places downtown have the most expensive parking ($25–40); take Metra, the bus or walk. Suburban forest preserves all have free parking.
- Illinois residents get free days at the Shedd, the Field, MSI and the Adler every year; tickets go online weeks ahead and vanish in minutes.